Zminijietna - Voice of the Left calls on the Minister of Education to withdraw his declared policy regarding empty schools. These must be used for the benefit of the community and not sold to the private sector.

The problem of lack of funds for the maintenance of public schools is not created by empty schools but is a result of budget measures which will reduce Government income, such as the reduction of top income tax rate from 35% to 25%, and the policy of privatisation.

Zminijietna insists that “empty schools are used for social, cultural and education purposes and not for the profit of some. The education and social systems need progressive politics not a neo liberal agenda based of the selling off public facilities and services. On the contrary Government should implement a national strategy for the better use of the schools for the benefit of the whole community, along with a fiscal policy that ensures adequate income for the state”.

Richard Mifsud

PRO

Zminijietna